Sharmila visits eviction victims
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 03 2016:
Irom Sharmila who fasted against the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) for 16 years visited the families who were evacuated from Sendra foothills and are currently taking shelter at the Sendra community hall.
In addition to rampant human rights violation by armed forces, the State has also been violating rights of thousands of people who are dependent on Loktak Lake in the name of development projects, said Sharmila.
She then called upon all the people to stand united against all forms of human rights violation committed by the State and its agencies.
Although Manipur is said to be a part of a republic, people's representatives share no empathy with the plight of the masses.
People are left with no option to highlight their grievances.
Though it is late, people ought to demonstrate that politicians cannot hoodwink the masses with false promises and buy votes with money at the time of elections, exhorted Sharmila.
People should demonstrate that money and power cannot always win elections.
"Our people should shed short-sightedness.
Our people must wake up and march collectively on a path of development, progress and dignity", Sharmila said.
Stating that people's voice is the God's voice, the anti-AFSPA champion called upon the masses to shed all kinds of fears and fight for truth and justice collectively.
Manipuri society is accustomed to being hypercritical.
Each and every citizen need to do a soul-searching and see what their virtues and weaknesses are.
Fishing families who have been rendered homeless need not be distraught and dejected rather they must explore all possible means to fight for their rights, Sharmila exhorted.
It is a matter of serious concern that the Government has been playing with the lives of fishing families of Loktak Lake in the name of development projects.
The Government should put an end to violation of human rights, Sharmila asserted.
Phumdis are a unique feature of Loktak Lake.
People who live on these phumdis are a permanent feature of the lake.
Harassment and victimization of fishing families in the name beautification of Loktak Lake and other modernisation projects cannot be justified, Sharmila remarked.
Sendra Youth Club secretary M Ibosana said that altogether 53 people of 11 families have been taking shelter at the community hall for the past one month.
Many children have not been able to attend schools as their school uniforms were also ruined when their houses were destroyed.
The homeless people are now suffering lots of difficulties with many of them falling ill.
Sharmila also visited the women vendors of Sendra foothills.
Many of the women vendors were taken by total surprise when they saw Sharmila.
As Sharmila halted at Moirang Keithel for a few minutes, a large number of people gathered around the anti-AFSPA champion and she interacted with them briefly.
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